HomeActivitiesThe Starting Point of Our Journey : TSPN Planning Workshop 2009

The Starting Point of Our Journey : TSPN Planning Workshop 2009

TSPN Steering Committee convenes to revise TSPN workplan and develop framework for future activities

With the official launch of the TSPN Secretariat in January 2009 a revision of the existing work plan and agreement on the most urgent topics and activities to be addressed over the course of 2009 was needed. With these goals in mind the TSPN  Secretariat hosted the  TSPN Steering Committee (SC) members at the GTZ headquarters in Eschborn, Germany for a planning workshop from March 9 to 10, 2009.  The Secretariat kicked off the workshop by providing a framework for guiding discussions about core functions, primary clients, and thematic areas of work.  Three broad topics were put forth in this framework, namely:

• Improving the standards-related awareness and strategic responses by key developing country decision-makers. There are many gaps in knowledge and relatively few vehicles for broad-based dialogue on both controversial and mundane technical subjects related to standards and trade, public and private sector roles, the future trajectory of standards, and related topics. Therefore the TSPN will seek to provide a platform for dialogue and serve as an information clearinghouse.  
• Improving the effectiveness and sustainable impact of technical assistance and other capacity-building interventions. The aim of this objective is to gather, aggregate, assess, and share lessons that are emerging from on-going development assistance interventions in this field and highlight aspects of ‘good practice’ throughout project/program life cycles.  
• Improving standards systems.  The Network will seek to intensify a process of shared learning amongst its members and promote, where possible, increased levels of coordination and/or direct collaboration between members in research, technical assistance, and other work.

Following the discussion on broad topics, the SC then focused on specific thematic areas to address each of them. This discussion concluded with the establishment of three Working Groups that will develop specific activities to achieve the objectives.  In addition to the participation of SC members in each of the Working Groups the Secretariat will be contacting TSPN members in the near future so that they can join the Working Groups most closely aligned with their institution's goals. The Working Groups are the following:

• Improved informed decision making in developing countries
• Improving technical assistance
• Improving understanding of the impact of standards in a development context

The link below contains detailed discussion of the points above as well as the interim report on the activities of the TSPN since July 2008.

Minutes TSPN Planning Workshop March 2009 [pdf, 512 KB]

by Johanna Zimmermann